Automatically-operated centering machine



Nov. 12, 1929. J. J. THACHER 1,735,361 AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED CENTERING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1927 "3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Nov. 12, 1929. THACHER 1,735,361

AUTOIIATI CALLY OPERATED CENTERI N6 MACH I NE F1 1 M y 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/ggi 8 M ATTORNEY Nbv. 12, 1929. J. g 1,735,361

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED CENTERING MACHINE Filed May 23, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 r 36 zz a I 38 2 5 By 9;. am

Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE Joni: J. rnnonnn, or WETHEBSFIELD, oonnno'rrourr, nssrenon 1 0 Panama warrmay corrrmmr NEW Yonx, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW'JERSEY ntrroMAT oA L -orERnrnn onnrnnmo micnrnn Application filed M9123, 1927. Serial No.,193,512.

This invention relates to centering machines and in particular to a duplex centering machine adaptedto be operated automatically to center the opposite ends ofwork blanks of different diameters and lengths.

An object ofthe present invention is to provide improved mechanism for rotatinga main control cam at diiferentsp'eeds to effect simultaneous feeding movement of the drill spindles and to effect clamping and unclamping of the work blanks in timed relation to the movement of the drill spindles. 7

Another object of the present invention is toprovide improved frictional driving means for the main control cam adapted to rotate the cam atdifierent speeds'from diiferentdriving connections, these means compri i g inte engaglng peripheral grooves on the cam and onsthe driving means.

Another object of importance is the improvement of the general construction of automatically operated centering machines,

specification and illustrated in .the accompanying drawings. so

In the accompanying drawings annexed hereto f and. forming 'a part of. i this specification, I haveflshown my inyentlon embod ed in a duplex centering machine, but itrwill be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied andthat the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being reliedlupon forthat purpose. I

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a complete machine provided with the present invention.

F 2.15 a d lev i ntek n ub tantially up h in o F g- I- E g-3 i N elevat ompar ly in sectio showing the mechanism for driving the main controlcam at two different operative speeds, and I iF g-j/k is a sideelevation of the main 99ntrol cam takenfrom the opposite side from I Fig. 2. v

In the above mentioned drawings I have shown but one embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, and in its broadest aspect, my in vention comprises the following principal parts: first, a base; second, opposed heads on the base having rotatably mounted drill spindles therein adapted to-be moved axially into and .out of engagement with the ends of,

the blank being centered; third, work supporting and holding means adapted to posi- ,tion blanks of different diameter in axial alignmentwith the drill spindles; fourth,

a rotating control cam having two cam;

rooves referably located on its opposite aces; fi h, a lever actuated by one cam groove to simultaneously advance'and retract the drill spindles; sixth, a lever adapted to engage the opposite cam groove, movement or which lever serves to advanceIand retract the i and eighth, means torotate the control cam at another speed when a work blank is being mounted in ,or removed fromitssecuring means.

' Referringcmore in detail to the figures of, the drawings, I provide a base 10, suitably supported upon pedestals 11, with tool heads 12 adapted to be positioned at any point along Ways 13 with which the upper surface of the base 10 is provided. These drill heads 12 are p along the base 10 for different lengths of blanks .W and to be clamped in any desired I position, these means corresponding to those disclosed in the above referred to application. I y r p Also adjustably m unted on the ways 13 of the base are work supports 14 having blank engaging members 15 which may correspond to those disclosed and claimed in mv copending application referred to above. As these members 15 are similar in every way to those employed in the centering machine described in the above mentioned application, a. description of them in the present instance is thought to be unnecessary.

The drill spindles 16 within the drill heads 12 are adapted to be simultaneously advanced and retracted by oscillation of a longitudinally extending shaft 17 mounted in rear of the base 10. Oscillation of this shaft 17 as shown in the drawings serves to transversely move a rack 18 in each head 12 by engagement with segmental gears 19 on the shaft 17, these racks 18 through appropriate connections in the drill heads 12 serving to actuate the drill spindles 16. The gears 19 on the oscillating shaft 17 are adapted to besplined thereto so that they may be moved with the drill heads 12 to any longitudinal position. The longitudinal shaft 17 corresponds to the longitudinal shaft in the above referred to application; In the application, however, the shaft is oscillated from a hand lever in one head and serves to actuate-the spindle in the opposite head. In the present instance the shaft 17 serves as the actuating member for the spindles 16 in the opposite heads 12.

In order to oscillate this shaft 17 to actuate the spindles 16 it is provided with a gear 20 keyed directly thereon adapted to be engaged by gear teeth on the end of a lever 21. This lever 21 is attached to a second lever22 through a connecting bar or link 23, the levers 21 and 22'being pivotally mounted upon a fixed axis on a bracket support 27 secured in rear of the base 10. The lever 22 has a roller 24 at its outer end adapted to engage a cam groove 25 on one face of a rotatable main control cam 26. In order to vary theamount of oscillation of the shaft 17 and therefore the amount of advancing movement ofthe drill spindles 16 for different classes of work by the same cam groove 25, the connecting link 23 is adapted to join the second lever 22 at any one of a plurality of points, the one shown in Fig. 2 being adapted to give the shaft 17 and drill spindles 16 their maximum movements.

In order to advance and retract the posi-. tioning members for retaining the blanks 1V against the engaging members 15 and properly in alignment with the drill spindles 16, a lever 31 is pivotally mounted on a. fixed axis on the bracket 27. its upper end being connected by a short link 32 to mechanism for moving the positioning member 30 so that oscillation of the lever 31 will'oscillate the longitudinal shaft 33 to which are attached the positioning members 30. As these members 30 and their connections to the longitudinal shaft 33 correspond with those disclosed and claimed in the copending applicaner or operative position.

tion, it will be unnecessary to refer to them in detail. Movementof the lever 31 is effected by means of a roller 32 upon its lower end engaging with a cam groove 33 in the opposite face of the n ain cam drum 26 from the groove 25 for actuating the drill spindles '16.

From the above it will be seen that rotation of the cam drum 26 will effect clamping and unclamping of the work blank "W and axial movements of the drill spindles 16. These two movements are adapted to be actuated in timed relation to each other by the relative positions of the cam, grooves 25 and 33 upon the cam drum 26. By rotating the cam drum '26through a complete revolution, one cycle of operations will be completed. Furthermore, the cam drum 26 must be rotated at a relatively slow speed while the drill spindles 16 are advancing and performing their cutting operation and relatively rapidly when the drills are out of their cutting position and a blank W is being released and another positioned for operation. Preferably the blanks 1 V to be centered are placed in a magazine 35 directly above the blocks 30 in a manner permitting the lowest blank 1V to rest upon the upper surface of the blocks 30. hfovement rearward of the blocks 30 will release a centered blank W and permit it to fall from the will then force the blank 1V forward into p sition against the members 15 for the centering operation.

In order to effect rotation of the cam drum 26 at two different speeds, mechanism hereafter described is made use of. Mounted on a bracket 36 in rear of the machine is a small electric motor 37 having a pinion 38 on its armature shaft in engagement with a gear 39 upon a sleeve 40 suitably supported upon a shortshaft 41. Rotation of this gear 39 and sleeve 40 rotates a pinion 42 formed on the sleeve 40 which is in mesh with a large gear 43 upon a sleeve 44 rotatable upon one end of a shaft 45. The sleeve 44 is supported in a bearing formed in a frame 46 pivotally mounted so that it may swing toward and from the base 10. In Fig. 3 the right hand end of the frame is shown in itslowermost position to more clearly show the gear connections. The left hand end is shown in its in- A spring 47 is provided to force the frame 46 at all times toward its inner position. The opposite end of this sleeve 44 is attached to a tube 48 which at its opposite end is provided with a member 49 keyed thereto and provided'with peripheral grooves extending circumferentially. This member 49 therefore is adapted to rotate at one given speed, depending upon the speed of the motor 37 and the ratio of the gears in its driving train. On the sleeve 44 is a pinion 50 adapted to engage a larger gear 51 rotatively mounted on the fixed shaft 41. This gear 51 carries a second gear 52 in mesh with another gear 53 keyed to a sleeve or hub pinned to the end of the elongated shaft 45 extending through the sleeve 44 and the tube 48. The opposite end of the shaft 45 has a member 54 closely adjacent the member 49 provided with grooves similar to those on the member 49 described above. This shaft 45 will be rotated at an extremely slow speed relative to the tube 48. As gears 52 and 53 are mounted on the outer ends of their sleeves they may be readily transposed or have other gears substituted in order to effect changes in rotative speed of the cam drum 26 during operation of the machine.

Extending peripherally about the main cam drum 26 are a series of semi-circumferential grooves 55 and 56 adapted respectively to frictionally engage the grooves in the members 54 and 49 described above. As will be seen from Fig. 3, there are two sets of these grooves 55 and 56 on the cam member, each extending approximately one-half around the circumference and aligned relatively'to each other so that during one-half revolution of the cam 26 the grooves 55 will be in mesh with the member 54 and during the'other half revolution of the cam drum 26 the other set of grooves 56 will be in contact with the member 49. As these members 54 and 49 rotate at different speeds and frictionally engage the grooves in the cam drum, this cam drum 26 will be fri-ctionally rotated at widely different speeds depending upon which member 54 or 49 engages the grooves 55 or 56 on the drum 26.

Preferably the cam drum 26 comprises a single member, the cam grooves 25 and 33 on opposite faces being formed to operate the spindles 16 and the blocks 30 in proper timed relation to each other. Also the two sets of semi-circumferential grooves 55 and 56 are disposed on the cam drum 26 so that the cam drum 26 will be rotated at a relatively high speed when a blank W is being released and another positioned and at a relatively slow speed when the spindles 16 are being actuated to performtlie cutting operation.

To facilitate manual rotation. of the cam 26 during preliminary adjustments of the machine, the end of the shaft 58 on which the cam is mounted and supported is squared for the application of a wrench. Also a hand lever 59 is fixed to the frame 46 carrying the members 49 and 54 so that these members can be held away from the cam drum 26.

What I claim is:

1. A centering machine comprising in combination, a base, oppositely disposed heads on said base having axially movable rotatable spindles therein, blank centering means on said base,a lever to axially move said spindles, a lever to actuate said blank centering means, a main control cam to operate said levers in timed relation to each other, series of semi-circumferential grooves on the periphery of said cam, and driving members rotate ing at different speeds adapted to engage said series of grooves on the cam, whereby said cam will be rotated at different speeds during portions of each rotation.

2. A centering machine comprising in combination, a base, oppositely disposed heads on said base having axially movable rotatable spindles therein, blank centering means on said base, a lever to axially move said spindles, a lever to actuate said blank centering means, a main control cam to operate said levers in timed relation to each other, series of semi-circumferential grooves on the periphery of said cam, driving members rotating at different speeds and having peripheral grooves adapted to engage said series of grooves on the cam, a pivotally mounted member supporting said driving members, and resilient means forcing said members toward the cam.

In testimony whereof, I hereto afiix my signature.

I JOHN J. THACHER. 

